Big Bluff Charity Poker

February 17 2017



  • NA team owners will represent a charity of choice and compete for $11,000 in a poker tournament for charity.
  • Event will be livestreamed on Twitch on Sunday February 19th at 5:30pm PST.
  • All viewers donations during the event will go to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.


We’ve all heard tales of "esport owner poker nights" and finally, the community will get a peek into one of these legendary events. In conjunction with Gamers for a Cause, the NA LCS owners have to host a charity event featuring, well, the NA LCS team owners! Tune in this Sunday at 5:30pm PST as the owners of your favorite orgs, each representing a charity of their choosing, duke it out for philanthropic supremacy.

Team owners will compete to win funds from a prize pool of $11,000 for the charity of their choice. Additionally, fans watching the LIVE broadcast on Twitch will be able to contribute: all donations go directly to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Representing Team Liquid, and our charity of choice: City Year LA, will be Steve Arhancet.


“I’m thrilled we could bring everyone together for our philanthropic poker night. Esports is known for its unrivaled community and this event is a way for us to show our passion for our community and give something back - alongside some friendly rivalry of course!”

-Steve Arhancet, event organizer

Organizations from across the esports ecosystem are lending their hands to support the event. Twitch will livestream every hand on the night; Next Generation Esports (NGE) is producing the event; and Liquid Media is providing graphics and creative content support.

“Regardless of whether you’re a fan of esports, League, or Poker, you are in for a treat,” said Andy Vander Woude, CEO of NGE, the event’s producer. “We love to produce events that allow esports audiences to contribute to amazing causes. With a professional dealer and two shoutcasters ready to go, I can’t wait to see what strategies our players will use to win a serious donation for their chosen charity.”

Players taking part, and the charity each are competing for, are:
  • Steven Arhancet, Team Liquid: City Year LA
  • Andy Dinh , Team SoloMid: Doctors Without Borders
  • Ryan Edens, FlyQuest: Partners in Health
  • Jack Etienne, Cloud 9: Givewell
  • Rick Fox, Echo Fox: Orphaned Starfish Foundation
  • George Georgallidis, Counter Logic Gaming: CARE
  • Chris Hopper, Riot Games: Trevor Project
  • Rob Moore, Phoenix1: Fulfillment Fund
  • Mike Rufail, Team EnvyUs: Gamers Outreach
  • David Slan​,​ Team Dignitas: Food Bank of Southern California
  • Noah Whinston, Immortals: ACLU